Top Tip #35
Teach your dog to stand still for a period of time. Gradually start off with sorter periods of time and slowly increase the time.
Try not to let your dog break from the stand. If they do, calmly re-place the legs. Your task is to praise the dog before they fidget. With training, the lengh of time your dog stands still will increase. Ideal for those large classes!
Once your dog has stood, give loads of praise and have a game/reward them.
Getting your dog used to being “gone over”
If you want to start showing your dog, no matter what their age, you must get them used to having their body touched.
You can do this by regularly doing a “hands on” body feel of your dog. Take both hands and go over your dog from top to toe. Start from the head and feel your way down the body. Down the front legs onto the feet. Up to the shoulders and back and around the ribs. Continue down the body towards the tail. Stroke down the hind legs (back legs). Touch the tail and gently lift it or put it down depending on the breed. If you have a male it must get used to having its testicles felt.
Also get your dog used to being touched at any time, often judges will re-check shoulder placement or muscles before making a final decision.
Each time you put your hands on your dog, do it slightly differently, as no two judges will be exactly the same!
And don’t forget lots of treat and praise to make it a positive experience!